In the category of medical sciences, USF topped the list in funds spent on research and development among all Florida public universities ranked by NSF — with $96.6 million in expenditures by USF Health and affiliate Moffitt Cancer Center. Only the University of Miami, a private institution, ranked higher in medical research expenditures.

In the rankings for all universities, both public and private, USF moved to No. 41 nationally for total research expenditures, up two places from No. 43, where the university was ranked the previous two years, and is ranked No. 2 in Florida.